Madden NFL 19 player ratings: How do state of Florida players score?

Jake Elman

Wednesday

Jul 11, 2018 at 12:01 AMJul 11, 2018 at 3:00 AM

As the 2018 NFL season approaches, a new edition of EA Sports’ "Madden NFL" series comes along with it on Aug. 10.

Tuesday, EA Sports released the ratings for all of the players in the forthcoming game currently on rosters, from future Hall of Famers like Tom Brady (a 99 overall) to Mr. Irrelevant himself, Redskins receiver Trey Quinn (a 69 overall).

As all seven Division I teams in Florida — Central Florida, Florida, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Florida State and South Florida — currently field alums on NFL rosters, The Post presents a look at the five top-rated players in Madden NFL 19 from each college. Note that players who aren’t among the top five but still warrant a mention will be included, though undrafted free agents — like former FAU running back Buddy Howell — are not on this list as they did not have ratings released.

Central Florida:

A.J. Bouye, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars (94): An All-Pro cornerback in his first year with the Jaguars, Bouye isn’t even the highest-rated defensive back on the Jaguars despite being a 94 overall, as you’ll find out below. Opposing offenses are going to struggle against Jacksonville this fall.

Josh Sitton, G, Miami Dolphins (88): Dolphins fans will be glad to know Sitton, a Pro Bowl guard in Green Bay and Chicago, enters this year’s game close to a 90 overall.

Latavius Murray, RB, Minnesota Vikings (82): Murray ran for 842 yards and eight touchdowns for the NFC North-winning Vikings last season, though his playing time may be limited with ex-Seminole Dalvin Cook returning from injury.

Matt Prater, K, Detroit Lions (82): Set to turn 34 next month, Prater is an 82 this year after hitting 30-of-35 field goals last season.

Brandon Marshall, WR, Seattle Seahawks (81): Despite missing the Giants' final 11 games last year with a foot injury, Marshall enters this year healthy and with an 81 overall. Marshall caught 18 passes for 154 yards in five games last season, his lowest output since his rookie campaign of 2006.

Noteworthy: Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles is an 80 in this year’s game, two points above Miami’s Ryan Tannehill. Bortles still ranks in the lower third of starting quarterbacks. … Seahawks cornerback Shaquille Griffin is an 80, while brother and former AAC Player of the Year Shaquem is a 72. … Rookie cornerback Mike Hughes (Vikings) and wideout Tre’Quan Smith (Saints) are rated 75 and 72, respectively.

Florida:

Jordan Reed, TE, Washington Redskins (94): Reed is the third-best tight end in this year's Madden — behind only New England’s Rob Gronkowski (99) and Travis Kelce of Kansas City (95) — despite only catching 27 balls for 211 yards and two touchdowns in six games last season. Does Madden know something we don't?

Keanu Neal, S, Atlanta Falcons (89): Neal has emerged as a leader on Atlanta’s defense, helping the Falcons to consecutive playoff berths. Neal was selected to the Pro Bowl last season, forcing three fumbles and deflecting six passes.

Marcus Gilbert, OT, Pittsburgh Steelers (86): A former star lineman at St. Thomas Aquinas, Gilbert is an 86 in this year’s game. Offensive linemen don’t always get the love they deserve, but EA paid attention to what the Fort Lauderdale product did last season while healthy.

Joe Haden, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers (85): While Haden showed flashes of his old form in 11 games for the Steelers last year, an 85 overall still seems surprisingly high.

Maurkice Pouncey, C, Pittsburgh Steelers (85): Another Gator-turned-Steeler appears on this list, with the six-time Pro Bowler still playing at a high level. Maurkice’s younger brother, former Dolphins center Maurice, is down to a 75 for the Chargers.

Noteworthy: Veteran Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap narrowly misses the top five, coming in at an 84 overall. … Bears tight end Trey Burton, who was key to the Eagles’ Super Bowl win, is also an 84. … Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown is an 82, with Jaguars defensive end Dante Fowler (81) right behind him. … Browns rookie receiver Antonio Callaway, who last played for the Gators in 2016, is a 70.

Florida Atlantic:

Trey Hendrickson, DE, New Orleans Saints (76): For the first time in years, a player not named Alfred Morris is the highest-ranked former Owl in Madden. Hendrickson had two sacks in 12 games last season and is poised for more playing time as a second-year pass-rusher for the Saints.

Cre’Von LeBlanc, CB, Chicago Bears (75): LeBlanc emerged as a viable role player two years ago, but he may need a strong preseason to stick with the Bears. LeBlanc had 12 tackles and a sack in 15 games last season.

Trevon Coley, DT, Cleveland Browns (72): One of the few bright spots on a dismal Browns team last year, Coley recorded 41 tackles and two sacks in 15 games.

Keith Reaser, CB, Kansas City Chiefs (71): Reaser was limited to only one game for the Chiefs last season, but he posted 40 tackles for the 49ers in 2016.

Adarius Taylor, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (69): Known as Adarius Glanton while at FAU, the fourth-year linebacker changed his last name to Taylor this offseason to honor his father. Taylor had 26 tackles and a sack in 14 games last year for the Bucs.

Noteworthy: New York Jets wide receiver Lucky Whitehead is a 69 after missing the 2017 season with a broken foot. … Atlanta Falcons safety Sharrod Neasman, the first ex-Owl to play in a Super Bowl, is a 62.

Florida International:

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts (89): Hilton's numbers dropped without Andrew Luck last season, as he posted his fewest catches (59), receiving yards (966), and touchdowns (four) in a season since his rookie campaign in 2012. Hilton still made his fourth straight Pro Bowl and is tied with Detroit’s Golden Tate, Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald and Tampa’s Mike Evans for the 11th-highest rating at wide receiver.

Johnathan Cyprien, S, Tennessee Titans (82): Cyprien went to the playoffs in his first year as a Titan, recording 57 tackles and a sack in 10 games.

Jonnu Smith, TE, Tennessee Titans (74): A third-round pick of the Titans last year, Smith caught 18 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie.

Alex McGough, QB, Seattle Seahawks (61): McGough was selected in the seventh round of May’s draft after throwing for 9,091 yards, 65 touchdowns and 37 interceptions as a four-year starter at FIU.

Florida State:

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars (97): A preseason front-runner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Ramsey is the highest-rated player from a Florida college in this year’s game. Not that anyone should be surprised by that.

Rodney Hudson, C, Oakland Raiders (95): Hudson could be one of the few bright spots on a Raiders team with diminished expectations this season, which makes his 95 overall that much more respectable.

Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta Falcons (91): A Miami Central alumnus, Freeman makes this four Florida State players with an overall above 90 in this year’s Madden.

Ronald Darby, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (86): Darby battled injuries after an Aug. 2017 trade to Philadelphia from Buffalo, but he is getting the benefit of the doubt this year.

Noteworthy: Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is an 85 after missing most of last year with a torn ACL. … Eagles defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan is an 83 overall. … Seahawks kicker Sebastian Janikowski is an 81. … Derwin James, a first-round pick of the Chargers in April, is an 80. … Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is an 80.

Miami:

Calais Campbell, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars (92): Campbell had his best season as a pro last season, recording 14.5 sacks and his first All-Pro honor with the Jaguars. This fall looks to be just as promising, even as Campbell is set to turn 32 on Sept. 1.

Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers (92): Olsen's 92 is more for his last few seasons, as the three-time Pro Bowler likely wants to forget last year's injury-plagued campaign. Olsen caught 17 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown in seven games, though he had eight receptions for 107 yards and a score in Carolina's NFC Wild Card loss to the Saints.

Brandon Linder, C, Jacksonville Jaguars (89): Linder is another Jaguar with a high rating in this year’s Madden. Another local, Linder played high school ball at St. Thomas Aquinas.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Green Bay Packers (86): Graham remains a top-rated tight end in Madden after catching 10 touchdowns last season in Seattle. Now in Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers throwing his way, Graham stands to put up numbers again in 2018.

Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans (85): Miller quietly averaged a career-worst 3.7 yards per carry last season for the Texans, though he's still just 27 and has two 1,000 rushing yard seasons since 2015.

Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (84): Pierre-Paul will don a uniform other than the Giants’ for the first time since leaving USF after the 2009 season, though Tampa fans should be happy with the 84 overall.

Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts (77): Mack will likely get a chance to start for the Colts after future Hall of Famer Frank Gore left Indy for Miami. As a rookie last season, Mack ran for 358 yards and three touchdowns.

Aaron Lynch, DE, Chicago Bears (76): Lynch is entering his first season with the Bears after four with the 49ers, the first two of which saw him record a total of 12.5 sacks. Lynch only has 2.5 sacks the past two seasons, but he could be in position to improve in Chicago.

Terrell McClain, DT, Atlanta Falcons (75): McClain had two sacks in 12 games last season for the Redskins and signed with Atlanta this offseason.

Deadrin Senat, DT, Atlanta Falcons (71): A third-round pick of the Falcons this spring, Senat had six sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss last season.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.